Marina Alta jobs remain strong despite end-of-summer slowdown

The Marina Alta region has recorded its strongest August employment figures ever, with over 70,000 people in work, despite a typical slowdown following July's peak. The Observatori Marina Alta, a joint initiative by CREAMA, PACTE’MA, LABORA, and Spain's Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, reported 70,242 Social Security affiliations in August, only 1,057 fewer than in July.

This represents a 1.48 percent monthly decline, but the region still saw the highest number of affiliated workers for August on record. Year-on-year growth shows the Marina Alta now has 3,333 more people affiliated compared to August 2025, a 5 percent increase. While seasonal jobs disappear as tourist months end, the overall employment base remains stronger than last year.

Accommodation services lost 350 affiliations, retail lost 234, but sports, leisure, and entertainment gained 118. Accommodation businesses still had 1,100 more affiliated workers than a year ago, while retail had 490 more. Registered unemployment increased by 77 to 7,282, the lowest August level since 2007, marking a 2.46 percent reduction from last year.

The estimated unemployment rate fell from 10.04 percent to 9.39 percent, staying below provincial and regional averages. Two thousand seven hundred twenty-one new contracts were signed in August, a 10.97 percent increase compared to August 2025. First eight months of 2026 saw 28,566 contracts registered, 18.64 percent more than the same period last year.

Permanent employment accounts for 65.05 percent of August contracts, indicating a robust labor market after summer's end.